Thursday, June 28, 2012

Interview with author, Daniel
Friedland. Debut novel: Down Aisle Ten

Scarberryfields: Can you tell us
a little about yourself?

Dan:
Of course! I live in Brooklyn with my amazing Canadian girlfriend. I’m still
not totally used to dropping the word “fiancée”, but we’re really excited to
get married next year. No kids or pets as of yet, but every available
windowsill is covered with plants. I’m a creative cook – no recipes for me –
and I sometimes compete in casual Iron Chef Battles against friends. What else?
I hike, camp, and canoe. I have a “degree” from an outdoor survival school for
freezing my @*&% off for a few days. I studied literature in college and
then foreign policy and law. I’m admittedly also a bit of an international
troublemaker. I learned Spanish in Italy, worked for the Royal Government of
Cambodia – at least until the electricity gave out each afternoon – and I wrote
for a half-English, half-Afrikaans newspaper in a dusty South African town. I
resigned from that last position with a panicked call for help to the U.S.
embassy and a late night escape in a rental car. It’s a rich tapestry of
well-intended hi-jinx.

Scarberryfields: Are you working
on a new book at the moment?

Dan:
I’d like to be! Much of my dedicated writing time is now spent promoting Down
Aisle Ten, which just came out this month. I’ve got the beginning of a new
novel in my head, but it’s still gestating and I’m not sure if I’m going with
it yet. The idea is also a bit wacky, so it will require a total commitment if
it’s going to work.

Scarberryfields: Where can people
go to read your work?

Dan: Good ol’ Amazon. www.amazon.com/dp/B0086OFUL6. Down
Aisle Ten is available in paperback and for the Kindle. I’m still partial to
hardcopy forms. There’s a sinister looking chicken on the front cover of the
book and I think it looks best in real print.

Scarberryfields: Which
traditionally published authors inspire you and are there any self-published
authors who inspire you?

Dan: Paul Auster is my favorite. Of course, I like a lot of authors, but
there’s something unique and mind-bending about Auster’s work. From time to
time I’ll have a particularly odd post-modern experience – at the grocery store
or in a park or somewhere else - and I’ll feel the same sensation I do when I
read his books. I find it simultaneously comforting and dislocating, but I
think good living requires being a little off-balance, so this works well with
my general ethos.

Scarberryfields: Good reviews,
mixed reviews, bad reviews – what are your thoughts on each of those?

Dan: I’d much rather have only good reviews, but it’s not realistic to
expect them all to be glowing. It’s an interesting process to observe – from a
psychological perspective. I assume that most people with negative responses
aren’t posting them online, based on the “if you don’t have something nice to
say” principle, but there are plenty of people out there who feel the need
either to voice their opinions or protect other consumers who might be interested
in the book. I’m not against this type of honesty – it’s not like breaking up
with someone and gratuitously telling them everything you dislike about them.
Also, this is what I signed up for. It’s flattering to have my work taken
seriously, even if it’s not appreciated.

Scarberryfields: If you work for
a living, how do you find time to write?

Dan:
I’m fortunate enough to work in the family business and have something of a
flexible schedule. I’m always on call – even when writing at a cafe – but I have
a decent amount of time to focus on my book.

Scarberryfields: Do you feel that
promoting your books on Twitter is beneficial?

Dan:
From a sales perspective, I’m not quite sure yet. Down Aisle Ten has only been
out for a few weeks and I can’t separate the buyers from my personal network
and those coming from other sources. And tweets disappear so damned quickly! I
have made some nice connections to other authors and reviewers and that’s been
a big help. Also, it’s really comforting to see and participate in this active
Twitter writing community. There’s an entire world of people out there who love
reading and writing and really appreciate each other.

Scarberryfields: Thank you for this interview. It’s always nice to
get to know the authors we follow on Twitter and have as friends on Facebook
better by reading their interviews. Congratulations on the many rave reviews
for your debut novel.